Duo hopeful of injury nod

Frustrating it may have been but at least there has been a positive side to the R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS’s lack of on-track action.

When we entertain Glasgow on 13 June it will be the first speedway at Shielfield Park for 49 days; since the barnstorming victory over Edinburgh which hurled us into the BSN Series semi-finals. In between there has been only a heavy Championship defeat at Scunthorpe.

Hugely contrasting results but meetings in which the Bandits were forced to line-up without injured stars Peter Kildemand and Reid Battye.

Reid has been sidelined since April 25 when he was collected and deposited heavily on the deck by Workington’s Niklas Holm Jakobsen. As a result he suffered a broken nose and fractured vertebrae which brought his points-laden start to the season to an abrupt end.

Six nights later Peter became entangled with Edinburgh number one Dan Thompson and was thrown over the handlebars on the back straight at Armadale suffering a broken collarbone. Treatment and recuperation back in his native Denmark have reportedly done the trick with Peter eyeing a comeback in the next week or so.

Meanwhile Reid has been making daily trips to the gym in addition to regular oxygen chamber therapy to speed his recovery.

Although his general fitness is excellent, the Australian, who celebrates his 25^th birthday on Wednesday, is waiting for another scan, the result of which will determine exactly when he can consider returning to training.

At home to the Tigers would do nicely for both of our sidelined stars.

And with a postponed Championship fixture against Redcar in addition to semi-finals in both the BSN Series and MAXICab Knockout Cup to fit into the Shielfield Park schedule there doesn’t look like being many free Saturdays until the end of September for Borders speedway fans.

Pictures: Keith Hamblin